A frequently asked question which we get from contractors and security consultants throughout the UAE is why the Precast concrete indicative wall prices vary so widely from one to another for seemingly the same product. Of course, most of the time, this is not onerous for either party; they’re just quoting different prices for different walls. In the security and perimeter protection industry, a precast T wall is not a single product – it is an indicative wall or blast wall. Whether you’re comparing multiple quotes or are just estimating a new project, height, base footprint, reinforcement grade and finish are all factors that will change depending on where it is placed and a lack of clarity on these details before comparing quotes can be the difference between a clear budget and confusing numbers.
What is a Precast Concrete Indicative Wall?
Precast Concrete Indicative Wall or T-wall is a self-supporting precast concrete wall with a wide T shape base. The base spreads the weight of the wall over a wide area, so that the wall will stand up without the need for a dug footing or foundation. The self-standing design allows for easy and quick deployment in perimeter security, hostile vehicle mitigation and blast protection applications where speed is as important as strength.
The T-base provides the weight which allows these walls to be placed and taken down as quickly as they can be moved when a project’s security perimeter shifts. The versatility has allowed precast indicative walls to become the norm in the UAE at checkpoints, government buildings, oil and gas facilities, event perimeter and construction site security.
When Should You Choose a Precast Concrete Indicative Wall?
For every security or perimeter application, a T-wall is not required. A standard (non-security) jersey barrier is often the more appropriate choice for lower threat traffic separation, lane management or general site boundary activities, as it is light, inexpensive, and easier to set up for non-security applications.
Specifically when the project brief requires hostile vehicle mitigation, blast resistance, or a physical barrier that is large enough to prevent sightlines into a sensitive facility, a precast concrete indicative wall becomes the appropriate solution. If your project brief is still in the defining stages, it’s good to communicate with your consultant about the level of threat and the need for security before committing to a barrier type as there is a considerable difference in costs between installing a jersey barrier and a complete T-wall installation.
Precast Concrete Indicative Walls Are Available in Various Sizes and Heights
The precast concrete indicative walls are generally available in various standard heights that are appropriate for various perimeter and threat requirements. The lower heights (3m – 3.6m) are more commonly used for a range of applications such as perimeter security, checkpoints and site hardening where the aim is to provide a visible and non-movable barrier to a boundary line. Taller walls are called for, up to 6 metres, when it is necessary to prevent sight lines into a sensitive facility completely or in a project with a higher threat level than a lower wall would give.
In addition to height, another dimension overlooked by many buyers until the day it becomes an issue on site is the T-base footprint. The size of the base affects the level of ground coverage for each unit and the degree of close fit between a run of walls and a kerb, boundary line or narrow verge. When there is a short space requirement, the area of the base (not the height of the wall) may actually limit the possible placement of the perimeter.
Each precast concrete indicative wall we produce is cast with reinforced concrete with cast-in lifting anchors, and will come ready to crane off the delivery trailer, without any extra work at the site. If the project specification requires a higher blast or impact resistance than the standard reinforcement, higher performance concrete mixes can be created to achieve this.
What Factors Influence the Price of a Precast Concrete Indicative Wall?
There are many factors that affect the cost of a T-wall within a range and the raw concrete content alone is not necessarily the greatest factor.
The more obvious factor is height, since it directly affects the amount of concrete and reinforcement steel needed, as well as the crane size for lifting and placing the wall. Cost is also influenced significantly by both reinforcement and concrete grade — a typical reinforcement cage costs much more than a cage rated for high impact scenarios.
Another area of cost variation is the surface finish, which can be a plain demoulded face or a fair-face finish, painted surface, anti-graffiti coating or a client logo cast into the panel.
Order quantity is also a true factor. When the perimeter run (modelling) is long, the cost is distributed over many units, so the per-unit cost of modelling is reduced, but when the perimeter run is small, the cost of modelling is distributed over many fewer units, so the per-unit cost of modelling is greater.
Lastly, buyers often find that delivery and crane access requirements are more complex than the all-important unit price. The cost of the walls themselves is not the most expensive component of the project; it’s the time the crane puts in at a checkpoint or facility that has limited access to cranes and manoeuvring areas.
It is important to note upfront that the lowest per unit is not always the best on a security critical project. If a wall comes in at the wrong height, with a lower base than the available kerb line or without the proper documentation of QA/QC, it results in delay and rework that costs much more than any savings on the initial unit price.
Installation and Lead Times
The product is designed to be easy to install, even a precast concrete indicative wall, to help it be popular in time-sensitive security deployments. This unit is installed in place with crane lifts on its cast-in anchors, and does not require footing to stand on for temporary or relocatable perimeter runs. Fixed joints or cast in base plates can be use on permanent installations when the project design requires a fixed installation and no relocation.
There are a variety of lead times – standard stock heights and bespoke specification. The production time will be longer of course if custom heights, specialised finishes, or enhanced-performance concrete mixes are used since they are not created from a standard inventory, but are cast to order. If you have a specific timeline you need to discuss early on in the quoting process, then you can avoid you will not be surprised when a project schedule is in place.
Standards and Documentation
For the security and infrastructure market in the UAE, products must be produced in accordance with the relevant British Standards and ACI guidance on reinforcement, structural strength and quality control throughout manufacture.
If you have a project that specifically calls for hostile vehicle mitigation performance, the benchmark referenced in the industry is the IWA 14-1 vehicle-impact standard, and if you explicitly state this in your project brief you are likely to be comparing against the same requirement when talking to a quote from any supplier.
A full quality assurance and quality control package and shop drawings will be normally required from a project consultant or approving authority as part of a complete order. Having your supplier confirm that they have this documentation available before the walls arrive on site ensures that you won’t experience delays when you need to submit your documentation for approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a precast concrete indicative wall do?
The precast concrete indicative wall (T-wall) is being installed at checkpoints, government and industrial facilities, event perimeters and construction sites throughout the UAE for perimeter security, hostile vehicle mitigation or protection against blasts.
Is it necessary to have a foundation for indicative walls?
Most installations will not need a dug foundation as the wall is supported by its own T-base. If the project design calls for a permanent installation, then pinned joints or cast-in base plates are acceptable.
What heights do they have?
The standard heights for general perimeter use and checkpoint use are 3 metres to 3.6 metres or more in cases where sightline blocking or higher threat applications are required. Custom heights can be cast to projects for the drawing.
Where is a precast indicative wall installed?
Units are installed using crane lifting, cast-in anchors and stand independently on their T-base to enable quick deployment and re-location in case of need.
Get a Quote for Your Project
Indicative walls are precast concrete walls produced at our plant in Umm Al Quwain to satisfy the perimeter security and hostile vehicle mitigation needs of projects throughout the UAE.
For an accurate quote please provide your desired wall height, run length/unit count, finish specification, delivery location, and if included in your project brief, any blast or HVM rating.
Call our team today to discuss your project requirements, timeline, and receive a competitive quotation for precast concrete indicative walls in the UAE.
